Healthy Families / SCHIP

Healthy Families is California’s low-cost insurance program that provides health, dental and vision coverage to children who do not have insurance and do not qualify for no-cost Medi-Cal. Federal funds pay for approximately two-thirds of the cost of the Healthy Families and Access for Infants and Mothers programs. The federal State Children’s Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP) is funded through March 31, 2009, providing states projected to have a shortfall (including California) with money above their federal fiscal year 2007 funding levels.

Healthy Families is California’s low-cost insurance program that provides health, dental and vision coverage to children who do not have insurance and do not qualify for no-cost Medi-Cal. Federal funds pay for approximately two-thirds of the cost of the Healthy Families and Access for Infants and Mothers programs. The federal State Children’s Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP) is funded through March 31, 2009, providing states projected to have a shortfall (including California) with money above their federal fiscal year 2007 funding levels.

As a result of three key actions, the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board (MRMIB) has determined that funding for the Healthy Families (HF) program is now sufficient to avoid disenrolling children as previously planned (see Aug. 28 CHA News). The final fiscal year 2009-10 state budget had reduced funding for the HF program by more than $170 million.